Efficiency Over Elegance

Cristiano Ronaldo excitedly picked up the phone in his room to share the good news with his family. Just moments ago, Andrew had come by to inform him that he had secured a contract with Nike for him.

He was making money!

Fifty thousand pounds!

To him, that was a fortune.

As he told his mother about it, pride seeped through his words.

However, his mother kept reminding him to listen to Aldrich...

In another room, Agüero and Messi were engrossed in a video game.

De Rossi and Barzagli were sneaking peeks at a Japanese adult film in their room.

Drogba lured Pedretti into a plan to sneak out of the hotel and check out Tokyo's nightlife, only to be caught by Craig, who was now reprimanding them in their room.

Villa and Alonso were in one room; Villa wore headphones listening to music while Alonso was reading...

Meanwhile, their boss, the club's ultimate authority Aldrich, was in his room discussing child custody issues with Andrew.

The room was a mess, and Aldrich's ashtray was shattered; he had no motivation to tidy up.

When Andrew arrived and saw the state of the room, he knew Aldrich was feeling worse than ever.

He had never seen Aldrich vent his anger by smashing things before.

Aldrich leaned against the sofa, his eyes half-closed as he supported his chin with one hand.

After he calmly explained the situation, Andrew hesitated to respond.

When Aldrich finally opened his eyes and gazed at him, Andrew sighed, "You and her aren't married. There's no custody issue! The child belongs to her. If she chooses to be a single mother, that's her decision. If you want custody, even if you lawyer up, you won't win. Her financial status would ensure your defeat. However, you can have visitation rights regardless of marriage; you can still see the child."

Aldridge shook his head repeatedly and said coldly: "I won't be like a stranger who only appears in front of my child occasionally!"

After a moment of consideration, Andrew murmured, "If you truly want custody, it's not out of the question."

"How?"

"I mean, if she were to start using drugs..."

"No, no, no, Andrew! You shouldn't think that way or say it out loud!"

Aldrich stood up, still shaking his head.

Andrew's words were too dangerous.

Though the Hall family was becoming wealthier and mingling with high society, it didn't mean they could disregard the law.

Andrew's suggestion was a dangerous implication that Aldrich couldn't accept, and he needed to warn Andrew to cut off any thoughts along those lines.

"Aldrich, do you know how these custody battles usually end?"

Aldrich turned to glare at him, and Andrew continued, "A man and woman become bitter enemies, slinging mud at each other, magnifying each other's flaws, exposing potential legal or moral failings. If you decide to take it to court, Melanie's lawyer will do the same to you."

Aldrich fell silent.

If that's how it would end, it would be brutal.

Andrew sighed softly, standing up and placing a reassuring hand on Aldrich's shoulder. "I've heard about her troubles too. Try to see it from her perspective; she's facing dual pressures from her career and love life. Maybe the message she sent you was just her acting out of anger. Once she calms down, and you do too, maybe you won't need to take it to court, which would certainly lead to mutual hatred. You mentioned that you think she'll ignore the family if she pursues her music career, which isn't what you want. When she realizes she can't dedicate time to the child, she might change her stance. I suggest you give it some time."

Aldrich did feel somewhat muddled, but Andrew's points made sense, even though he still felt uneasy.

After Andrew left, Aldrich lay down on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

The next day, after a poor night's sleep, Aldrich drank plenty of coffee to keep himself alert. The first team had confirmed the starting lineup and held a pre-match briefing earlier that morning.

The match would take place that evening, with Millwall facing Vasco da Gama, one a European Champions Cup champion, the other a Copa Libertadores champion, coming together for the Toyota Cup!

Although Millwall enjoyed high popularity in Japan after their Asian tour that summer, Brazil had strong ties with Japan, so Brazilian teams also had considerable support there.

At the National Stadium in Tokyo, Aldrich stood with a stern expression on the sidelines, waiting silently for the game to start.

With the previous day's experience, Japanese fans were eager to see how Millwall's first team would perform in the final.

Larsson and Pirlo were still recovering from injuries but were expected to return to training in about ten days. They had joined the team in Tokyo and were sitting in the stands in their suits.

As the game kicked off, Vasco da Gama quickly showcased their players' individual technical skills, a hallmark of South American teams. South American clubs usually lagged tactically behind European teams, but they compensated with personal ability.

However, since the Bosman ruling, while national teams in South America continued this tradition, club strength had been on a downward trend for years.

Millwall played a possession game today to minimize space for opponents to launch counter-attacks.

They had a higher possession rate than usual and were patient, waiting for the right opportunities instead of rushing shots.

The match started slowly, with few exciting moments.

It wasn't until the 37th minute of the first half that Millwall scored; Ronaldinho assisted Van Nistelrooy for a goal.

"This is a typical European-style football play—Millwall displayed great dominance today with their continuous passing. The attackers were moving back and forth in the front line to stretch the defense. But they were cautious with their final passes, seemingly only making threatening passes when they had a 100% guarantee. Vasco da Gama didn't manage a single shot. The disparity in strength between the two teams seems vast; however, Millwall's style of play is not particularly engaging. With eight minutes left in the first half, the teams had combined for only five shots, all from Millwall. We're seeing one shot every seven minutes, making for a dull match for the viewers."

Aldrich didn't care; his goal was to achieve an efficient victory with the least amount of physical exertion!

Millwall's long journey and players' attendance at commercial events would inevitably impact their physical condition. After this match, they would return to London, immediately facing a series of back-to-back matches—a League Cup game, the last round of the Champions League group stage, and then the Christmas match rush. The team had to win this match at the lowest cost.

After the 1-0 score, Aldrich waved his hand from the sidelines, indicating Millwall to tighten up and play defensively.

During halftime, Aldrich substituted Nedved and Van Nistelrooy, bringing in seven defenders and relying on Ronaldinho to orchestrate transitions, with Henry and Gronkjaer using their speed to exploit gaps.

Vasco da Gama, frustrated and unable to touch the ball in the first half, would now face a Millwall defense that was as solid as iron whenever they tried to press into the danger zone. They didn't have the physical advantage, and with Millwall's intricate chain defense, many of their shots ended up flying over.

As the attacking troops surged forward and the defenders joined in, Millwall's counterattack was like a sword piercing directly into the rival's heart!

Schneider made a long clearance from the back, sending the ball to the front. Vasco da Gama's defender miscalculated and allowed Henry to break through. When the goalkeeper came out, Henry passed the ball to the trailing Ronaldinho, who was about 40 yards away, and he expertly lobbed it into the goal.

"Millwall has extended the score through a counter-attack! At this rate, the match's suspense has evaporated. Aldrich Hall is known as a tactical master in European football, and today he's displayed a very utilitarian side to his tactics. In the first half, they did indeed play very fluidly as a team but lacked any thrilling moments, resembling a lullaby that makes the audience sleepy. In the second half, their defending and counter-attacks were efficient and simple, leveraging the speed of the players to find chances. But this isn't the Millwall we yearned for—the team that engaged in exhilarating battles against European kings like Real Madrid."

Aldrich didn't care about the critics; they scored again, and he continued to make substitutions, taking Ronaldinho off for a rest. Henry had just returned, and the plan was to limit his play to one game a week. Keeping him on today would mean he could rest for upcoming league matches back in London.

After completing the substitutions, Aldrich returned to the bench, calmly awaiting the clock to run down.

Today, Vasco da Gama had no answer against Millwall's staunch defense. Their individual capabilities were thoroughly suppressed, thanks to the detailed report by Villas-Boas that analyzed each player's characteristics and habits. Millwall's marking was precise and targeted; take Schneider, for example—his marking against an opposing winger was flawless. By forcing the opponent to use their weak foot, they effectively neutralized them.

When the final whistle blew, the score settled at 2-0. Millwall's coaches and players rose from the bench, congratulating one another. Pirlo and Larsson also descended from the stands, smiling and embracing their teammates in celebration.

Millwall proudly lifted the Toyota Cup.

During the celebration, Aldrich deliberately pulled Villas-Boas over, draping an arm around his shoulder for a photo.

Leaning in, Aldrich sincerely said, "Thank you. Today's victory is largely thanks to you. We need partners like you; you are both the guarantee of our success and the foundation of our new glory."

Hearing this, Villas-Boas was both touched and thrilled. Receiving Aldrich's direct affirmation was a huge morale boost, even if Aldrich was just a year older; to Villas-Boas, Aldrich loomed like a mountain that one must look up to.

Ronaldinho, with one goal and one assist, was named man of the match, receiving a key to a Toyota car.

After claiming his reward, he dashed up to Aldrich and tossed him the car keys with a hearty laugh, "Hey, Boss, this car is for you!"

Aldrich chuckled and chided, "Are you just trying to dump your hassle on me?"

Ronaldinho simply laughed, not offering any clarification.

Aldrich then turned around and tossed the keys to Boas, grinning, "Now it's your reward."

Coaches' salaries were significantly lower than players', often less than one-seventh of the top players' salaries. Villas-Boas accepted the reward, then arranged for the car to be sold before leaving Tokyo, converting it into cash for his account.

Before Millwall returned to London after their championship victory, The Times published a satirical headline:

**"In Pursuit of the Grand Slam, Does Millwall Consider Exiting the Premier League's Top Three?"**

The article reviewed the trophies Millwall had earned over the years: the League Cup, FA Cup, League title, Community Shield, European Super Cup, European Winners Cup, European Champions Cup, and now the Toyota Cup.

What was Millwall missing to achieve the Grand Slam?

The UEFA Cup.